FORT SMITH (AP) — Prosecutors will ask a federal judge to sentence a former Fort Smith bank official who pleaded guilty to embezzlement to at least three years in prison.

Mary Kay Newman, 45, pleaded guilty in March to embezzlement and misapplication of funds by a bank employee. A customer noticed that her bank statements stopped coming and discovered later that Newman had cashed a certificate of deposit worth $300,000.

The Times Record newspaper reported Sunday the U.S. Attorney’s office filed a memorandum seeking a sentence of 41-51 months for Newman, who is free pending her sentencing Aug. 15 before U.S. District Judge P.K. Holmes III.

Newman had worked at the First National Bank of Fort Smith for more than 20 years. A customer, Ruby Pharis, said Newman had power of attorney to pay medical bills but didn’t have the authority to cash checks, redeem the certificates of deposit or use money for her own benefit, according to a plea bargain.

Prosecutors said Newman defrauded multiple banks and Pharis as part of her scheme.

Pharis had CDs worth nearly $560,000 but in 2011, Newman converted them to six cashier’s checks. She kept $160,000 initially, then another $100,000. After cashing a $300,000 certificate of deposit, she kept $85,000, prosecutors said.

Pharis discovered the plot in December 2011 when she stopped receiving statements from First National. She died a week after Newman pleaded guilty.

Newman acknowledged embezzling more than $300,000 but disputes the government’s claim that the amount was almost $560,000.

A First National auditor says nearly all of the money has been recovered.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyra Jenner said in a memorandum to the court that Newman still owes a little more than $18,000 in restitution for lost interest, early withdrawal penalties, attorney’s fees and other expenses incurred by Pharis’ estate.

At the sentencing hearing, a representative of Pharis’ estate will testify Pharis never recovered from Newman’s betrayal, which caused her heartbreak and depression that severely diminished her quality of life, according to Jenner’s notice to the court.